Integration Fund:

Female migrants less likely to be employed than their fellow citizens

Women with a migrant background were significantly less likely to be employed in 2022 (63.2 percent) than male migrants (75.1 percent). The lowest employment rate is among women from Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq (25 percent), which is also significantly lower than that of their male fellow citizens (61.1 percent), according to a media paper published by the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF).

The employment rate for people from the EU states before 2004, the EFTA states or the United Kingdom was 78.9 percent, which is significantly higher than for people of Turkish origin (62.7 percent) or from other third countries (63.6 percent) and even higher than for Austrians (76.1 percent).

According to the Integration Fund, the high labor market integration of immigrants from EU countries is due to their qualifications, easier access to the labor market and the fact that only those who find work stay in Austria for longer.

Ukrainians also included in unemployment statistics
On Thursday, the Public Employment Service Austria (AMS) announced the latest labor market data: The number of foreign persons registered as unemployed or undergoing AMS training rose by 14.7 percent year-on-year to 175,807 at the end of January. Ukrainians have had completely free access to the labor market in Austria since the end of April 2023 and are therefore included in the unemployment statistics. The number of Austrian people registered as unemployed or in training rose by 3.6% year-on-year to 245,400 at the end of January.

Job entry should be made easier for migrants
Business representatives continue to complain about a shortage of jobs and skilled workers in this country. The ÖVP-Wirtschaftsbund records all job portals in its job monitor and recorded over 165,000 vacancies in January. The ÖIF is trying to make it easier for refugees, displaced persons and immigrants to get a job with a range of measures. Among other things, the Integration Fund supported around 66,000 German course places last year, and a similar demand is expected this year.